Rima XLVIII

by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
translated by H. Landman


Sometimes I meet her in the world
    and she passes close by me:
she passes grinning and I say
    How can you smile?

But soon appears on my lips another grin
    masking my sorrow,
and then I think: "Perhaps she smiles
    like I smile!"

Alguna vez la encuentro por el mundo
    y pasa junto a mí:
y pasa sonriéndose y yo digo
    ¿Cómo puede reír?

Luego asoma a mi labio otra sonrisa
    máscara del dolor,
y entonces pienso: “¡Acaso ella se ríe,
    como me río yo!”


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Copyright ©2001,2003 Howard A. Landman / howard@polyamory.org
Created 2001 November 26
Last updated 2003 August 14